Chapter 16 - The Price Jonas Owed
"Mom?" Clara whispered.
Jonas moved past her and checked the monitor connections. A backup cable had been pulled from its socket. He restored the link. The monitor resumed its slow, regular rhythm.
"She's alive," he said.
Clara held the bedrail. She had wanted her mother back for so long that the sight of her felt almost cruel.
"Don't wake her too fast," Evelyn warned. "Her body needs a medical team."
A door banged behind them. Marcus stumbled in, followed by Victoria. He had surrendered his gun, but she held a compact pistol in one steady hand.
"You always were sentimental, Jonas," Victoria said. "Even now, you care more about one woman than the work that could save millions."
"You buried people in your work," Evelyn said.
Victoria looked at Mara. "Come here, sweetheart. I can have your implant repaired."
Mara stayed beside Clara. "You mean turned back on."
"You don't know how sick you are."
"Then why were you trying to kill me?"
Victoria's expression hardened. She raised the pistol at Jonas.
"I'll ask once. Reverse the release."
"It can't be reversed after both girls consent," he said.
"Then one of them can die before the transmitter connects."
Marcus moved. He caught Victoria's wrist as she fired. The shot struck a ceiling panel. Sparks poured onto the floor. The pistol skidded away.
"You promised my family would be safe," Marcus snarled.
"Your family was never part of the agreement," Victoria said.
It was the first honest thing Clara had heard from her.
A ceiling sprinkler exploded. Water hit an exposed electrical box, and the donor ward's doors began to close.
Jonas shoved the bed toward Evelyn. "Get Elena out!"
May you like
But the emergency carriers were on the far side of the narrowing opening.
And Marcus was still trapped inside with Victoria.
